Clamp for spacing the bows of vehicle-tops apart.



No. 896,317. PATENTED.AUG.18, 1908. F. L. PAXSON.

CLAMP FUR SPAGING THE BOWS OF VEHICLE TOPS APART.

' APPLICATION FILED OOT.11, 1907. 7

lvwentbv 'vehicleshowing the bows in a loweredposi- -:T0 all whom it may concern.

f justablysecured together so as to be capable pivot out of, engagement with said notch] rnrnn sTA'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

I FRANK L. PAXSON, OF. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PERCY L. NEEL, OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. v

CLAMP FOR SPAGING THE BOWS OF VEHICLE-TOPS APART;

Application filed October 11,

Be it known that I, FRANK L; PAxsoN,-'a citizen of the United States, residing fatRhil adelphia, in the-countyof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Cl'amps for Spacing the Bows of Vehicle-Tops Apart, of which the following is a specification, i

My invention relates to devices for spacing the bows of vehicle tops apart when down so as to prevent them from chafing against one another and has for its object the provision. of a device consisting oftwo strips "of rigid material formed with corrugations and adof adjustment to varying sizes of bows;

The construction and operation of my ir'ne proved clamp will-be described hereinafter. and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in -which Figure 1' is a side view of a fragment of a tion and the clamp in lace, Fig. 2, an end, view of the clamp, and *ig. 3, a side view a In the drawingssimilar referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several wviews.

My improved clamp consists of two corrugated metal bars 1 and 2 each of which has a strip of leather 3 or other suitable material secured to its inner side which may begrooved as shown at 4 to receive said strip or ;the groove mayif referred be omitted. Barlhas a threaded bolt 5 pivotally secured to each end'while one end of bar 2 is rovidedwith a hole 6 to receive one of the b0 ts 5andthe other end formed with a notch 7; to re ceive the other bolt.

8 indicates a thumb or 'wing nut or its equivalent on each bolt5.

In operation my improvedblamp is opened to be attachedfto the bows A of a vehicle B byv looseningthe win nut'8 on the'bolt5 secured in notch- 'andjthe bolt swung onits he bars land 2 may thenbe spread apart using the hinged portion of the other bolt 5 secured in hole 6 as a pivot, or the bar 2 may be swun sidcwise on the bolt itself as a swivel. It will be apparent that the dis: tance between the bars 1 and 2 may be regulated to suit the thickness of the bows A, if greater than the distance between the bars at their widest parts, by loosening the nuts 8 Specification of Letteics Patent.

of rigid materia Patentedu 18, 1968., 1907, SerialNo. 397,014.

so thatmy device is adaptable to covers of different varieties and, sizes ,I have shownthe clamp in use wlth'a cover having'four bows-but-it will, be apparent that the device is adaptable to covers of a smaller 'number of bows and by, increasing thelength.

"of the bars andgt-the number of corrugations maybe ada tedto a greater number of bows.

Having t ius'described my invention what I claim is' v 1. In a clam "for vehicle tops, two bars I'cdrrespondingly corrugated and pivota-lly and swivelly secured together, substantially as shown andfde'scribed.

2. In a clamp for vehicle tops, two corru gated. bars of rigid material, threaded bolts secured. to one ofsaid bars, the other.

abarforined to receive. said-bolts, and threadshown' and described. 3. In a clamp for vehicle ed-fastenings oil-said bolts, substantially as tops, two corrugated bars of rigid material,- threaded bolts pivotally secured to the ends of one bar,

the otherbar'formed. toreceive said; bolts,

and"threadedfastenings on said bolts, substantially as shown and. described.

4.'A clamp for vehicletops,; co1nprising,

two corrugated bars of rigid-5 material,

'threaded bolts pivotally secured to the ends ofone bar, the other bar haviin'g' a'hole in one end and a notch i-n-the other'to receive said,"

bolts, and" wing-nuts engaging said" bolts, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a clamp'--'for. vel1'icle tops two bars formed to. separately embrace and; support the bows of a ,vehicle'top, threaded bolts se-- curedi tothe ends of one bar, and the other bar'fornied toengage saidv threaded bolts and pivotally and swiv'ellymounted thereon,

substantially as shown and described.

6. In aclamp for'vehicle -topao two bars formed to separately embrace and} support the bows of a vehicle'ltop,threaded bolts pivotally secured to the ends of one bar, and the other bar having a hole; in one end and a notch-in the other'to receive said bolts, and threaded fastenings engaging said bolts, substantially asshown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature in the presence .of two witnesses. FRANK L. PAXSON. Witnesses;

Hiram. H; BELKNAP, Hanan GREER. 

